IW FESTIVAL ZONES.

Posted on June 3, 2014

In the now, what has become quite vast, camping/entertainment area of the Isle of Wight Festival there must be something for everyone to explore.

Away from the main stage and past the Big Top are fields with activities for all. Big screens sponsored by BT will show the FIFA World Cup matches whilst other areas have something to suit every mood and taste.

Kids Zone is a magical area filled with fun & entertainment to delight children and parents alike.Experience this relaxing & inspiring environment where the talented crew is dedicated to showing you and your family a good time.

This year there are shows from the Noisy Oyster Puppet Theatre and magician Roly Botha. Seelie Court Fairies will be doing a walkabout performance and circus, and if the children are inspired to learn some performance arts themselves Ryde Extreme Performers will be teaching Circus Skills, including, for the first time, the chance to try out stilt walking. This Isle of Wight group is excellent at the art of circus and it is great to see Island young people being able to pass on their skills to others.

The Arts and Crafts programme includes the Sticker Art crew, The New Carnival Company, Daemon and Doppleganger (clay self-portraits) and Island Forest Schools who will all be running workshops all day, which include sketching, marbling, fused plastic crafts and festival dolls.

Once again it is good to see Island talent with The New Carnival Company joining in the Festival. Following their successful programme of Carnival walks for the IW Walking Festival their large banner making always adds colour to any event.

With people-powered rides, dressing up, games, a talent show, face-painting, hair-braiding, story-telling and Lego amongst the other delights on offer, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy.

Away from Kids Zone other areas this year include a Butlin’s Ballroom, Whisky Sessions, Kashmir Cafe and Platform One.

Island interest can be found in the Kashmir Cafe sponsored by Quay Arts. In its seventh year at the Festival, as well as serving Isle of Wight brewed real ale and showcasing excellent live music, Kashmir Café has some exciting new features including projections from local film maker, Paul Windridge, and arts activities based around Quay Arts’ summer exhibition by Turner Prize winner Martin Creed.

Bigger and better than ever before Island based Platform One College of Music are back at the festival with their very own mini-big top. The stage will be known as the ‘Platform One Stage’ and will feature young up and coming acts serious about progressing in the UK music industry.

This will be the ideal meeting place for young people to gather and watch some of their favourite Island bands, celebrating the wealth of musical talent associated with Platform One. This stage will also feature bands from this year’s Wight Noize auditions, as well as past and present students studying commercial music at the college.

Platform One has been involved with the Festival since its rebirth in 2002 with John Giddings becoming a patron of the college in 2008.

By day, the Butlin’s Ballroom is the place to go for spectacular family entertainment and by night it transforms into an amazing Silent Disco Battle venue. Expect spectacular shows, robots, wrestling, iconic DJ battles and much more.

New to the Festival this year will be the Whisky Sessions, a theme bar big-top with whisky, cocktails, live music and DJs. It boasts-The ultimate Dram-Jam!

On Saturday evening at 7pm someone very familiar to Girlguiding on the Island will be on stage at Whisky Sessions. Jazzy Heath is no stranger to performing in front of big crowds as she performed in front of an audience of around 5000 at Paulton’s Park, Hampshire after winning a singing competition. Her performances have also included live TV shows and charity concerts. A chance meeting with John Giddings led to Jazzy, who also composes her own material, gaining a slot at Whisky Sessions- what a way to celebrate your 17th birthday!

After all this, the ultimate in somewhere to rest the head:VIP Luxury Accommodation provided by All Events. Festival organisers say “For 2014 we are excited to announce our backstage VIP hospitality area at the IOW Festival which enables us to offer a wider range of accommodation, helicopter transfers, VIP luxury boat transfers, spa facilities and transportation within the site itself”.